Haryana Communal Violence: Nuh Violence: Internet services have been suspended in Nuh till tomorrow to contain the “intense communal tension” and stop the spread of misinformation and rumours.
Gurugram/New Delhi: Three persons, including two home guards, were killed and several persons injured in clashes that broke out on Monday during a procession taken out by the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Haryana’s Nuh.
As communal violence flared in the district, internet services were suspended, prohibitory orders were imposed, and the state Home Minister sought additional forces from the Centre, claiming that “3,000-4,000 people were being held hostage in a temple”. They were evacuated late in the evening.
The deceased home guards were identified as Neeraj and Gursevak by the Gurgaon police, who said they were attached to Kherki Daula police station in Gurgaon. Police said another unidentified person was declared dead in hospital.
By evening, violence had spread to Sohna Chowk near Gurgaon, with some vehicles set on fire and shops vandalised, allegedly by Bajrang Dal members. Chief Minister M L Khattar appealed to people to maintain peace. “The kind of situation that has emerged in Nuh makes it even more important for all the people of the state to be more responsible and ensure brotherhood,” he said. “All the issues can be resolved by way of talks. Nobody should indulge in sending/ circulating any wrong information/ messages. Nobody is above the Constitution of India.”
The yatra, which started at Nalhar temple in Nuh, had permission, said a district administration officer. The participants left for Ferozepur Jhirka around 1 pm, boarding buses, cars and bikes. Roughly 1,000 police personnel were deployed at three sites along the route.
Police said the procession was stopped about 5 km away by a group of young men, and stones were pelted at the participants, who headed back to the temple. “One or two cars” in the procession were also set on fire, officers said, adding that violence continued to spiral despite the heavy police deployment.
A senior officer in the Chief Minister’s Office told The Indian Express in the evening, “The situation is being regularly monitored at the highest level in the government. The Director General of Police, ADGP (CID) and other key officials of the police department are in constant touch with officers at the ground level. Reinforcements have been sent, additional forces have been deployed.”
“The situation is tense in Nuh. There are about 3,000-4,000 people being held hostage at Narhar temple. All of them were part of the VHP’s procession. We are trying our best to first rescue these people,” Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij told The Indian Express earlier, adding that he had asked Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to send additional forces.
The Union Home Ministry later decided to provide 20 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to maintain law and order till August 8.
All private and government education institutions will remain closed in Gurgaon and Palwal on Tuesday to avoid any untoward incident, the authorities said.
Suspending internet in the district, Additional Chief Secretary (home) T V S N Prasad said in an order, “There is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in district Nuh on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours, which are being/ could be transmitted/ circulated to the public through social media/ messaging services on mobile internet services, SMS services and other dongle services.”
Courtesy:The Indian Express
